Region Archives: Canada East

Guy Bourgouin

A group of northern Ontario New Democrat MPPs want the province to address urgent safety issues for forest firefighters prior to the start of the 2024 fire season. Mushkegowuk James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin says they want the forest rangers to be included in Bill 149 and have the same protection and classification as other firefighters. “We know that they are young people because it’s hard work, and they are getting paid $25 an hour to jump off helicopters to go into the swamps, to go into the hard terrain and firefight,” he said. “And they are exposed to smoke that could later on give them cancer.” Bourgouin says they’ll be pressing the Ministry of Labour for clarification on the issue. “So we pushed questions today, and the Ministry of Labour answered yes they will,” But they said yes. Yes to what,” he said. “They didn’t go into detail. We’re going to follow up probably tomorrow and asked to clarify this on what it means by yes.”

The snow hasn’t even melted, but wildfires are already on the minds of Thunder Bay’s members of council, and city administration. David Paxton, the city’s acting fire chief, said Thunder Bay has already had some discussions with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry about the upcoming wildfire season, which officially begins April 1. “They’re expected to be, I think, ramping up their preparedness a little bit earlier this year,” he said. “I know their normal callback is usually very early in April, they start to ramp up their crews and prepare.” “We were actually talking to them last week about some preventative prescribed burns, possibly along some railroad tracks and other areas of concern, but they’re paying attention to the weather and snow melt.” The matter was the subject of a deputation by Thunder Bay resident Malcolm Squires at Monday night’s council meeting.

THUNDER BAY, Ontario — Cat Lake First Nation signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with two leading Finnish organizations to collaborate on forest biomass and long-distance healthcare diagnostic initiatives. …The first partnership involves a health diagnostics initiative with 73Health, focusing on deploying advanced remote medical diagnostic solutions for the benefit of remote communities, including Cat Lake First Nation. This initiative is part of 73Health’s expansion plans across North America, with Ontario being a priority location. …The second partnership with Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) aims to advance a Northern Bioeconomy Network, focusing on scientific and academic exchange and the sustainable utilization of forest biomass resources for economic growth. The intent is to complete an ecological and economic master plan within a year. … Minister Graydon Smith said “Funding delivered by the Indigenous Bioeconomy Partnerships stream will ensure Ontario’s growing forest bioeconomy builds prosperity for Indigenous businesses and communities.”

Chelene Hanes and Matthew Shoemaker

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario — In her time researching wildfires, Chelene Hanes has watched a changing climate change our understanding of how forests burn. Hanes, a wildland fire research scientist with Natural Resources Canada, says researchers are updating their models to account for a warmer planet. …Research from the Canadian Fire Service (CFS), a branch of Natural Resources Canada, helps develop new and better ways to fight wildfires. Hanes is based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and was one of two people this year to receive the city’s medal of merit. “Dr. Hanes has not only enhanced the scholarly landscape of the community but has also ignited a passion for climate change, forest fire, and drought management in others,” the city said in its announcement for the recognition.

One of the main conservation authorities in the Ottawa area is concerned a lack of snow this winter could lead to drought in the summer. According to Environment Canada, Ottawa has seen 96.7 centimetres of winter precipitation since Dec. 1. Over the same timeframe last year, Ottawa saw 244.5 centimetres. That’s put those who monitor the Rideau Valley watershed’s conditions on alert. Normally, Stratton said, the spring freshet begins in the middle of March, with peak flow happening from the end of March into early April. …With minimal snow on the ground and warm weather slated this week, the region could be entering March with no snowpack — something that has Stratton worried about drought. It’s too early to make a firm prediction, Stratton said, as there could be another snow dump before winter is out, plus more rain in the spring.

Environmental advocates and conservation groups are rallying against proposed amendments to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act because protections for vulnerable species will potentially be weakened. The proposed new rules are easing protections to increase opportunities for various types of development and the creation of mining exploration trails. …Under the proposed amendments, habitat protection for the endangered redside dace minnow would be reduced from 20 to 10 years, potentially allowing development activities in areas inhabited by the fish for less than a decade. In the case of mining exploration, the changes would nullify current Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibitions that prevent companies from damaging and destroying habitat for trail-making. However, the new rules would include a suite of mitigation measures to protect caribou, wolverines, grey foxes, polar bears and other birds and small mammals. Conservationists say the changes prioritize development interests over the protection of at-risk plant and animal species. 

THUNDER BAY — The union representing forest firefighters in Ontario says the province’s aviation, forest fires and emergency services branch is inadequately prepared for the 2024 fire season. A spokesperson for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union alleges that AFFES has “a retention crisis” in which there are almost no experienced staff left in the program. “This is evident in the fact that Ontario was short roughly 12 per cent of its crews in 2022, and 26 per cent in 2023,” said Noah Freedman, vice-president of OPSEU local 703, and a ninth-year fire crew leader based in Sioux Lookout. “The numbers are getting worse because, though we have no problem hiring young 18 and 19-year-olds, the lack of experience means we have no one to lead those crews. The AFFES certainly doesn’t want to acknowledge this.” Meanwhile, Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said yesterday that this year’s wildfires could be even worse than last year.

Indigenous leaders in Quebec are warning the province not to just pay lip service to a new provincial law requiring forestry officials to consult with First Nations when it comes to awarding new logging rights and contracts. Last week marked the first-ever Round Table on the Future of the Forest, which brought First Nations together with provincial forestry officials from the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF). In a statement released last week, the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) warned that negotiations must get off the ground on the right foot – and in good faith. “This new initiative by the Quebec government must translate into concrete actions and measures that respect the rights and interests of First Nations. They are inseparable from the future of our forests and the forestry activities that derive from it,” the AFNQL said. 

After the severity of the 2023 wildfire season, forest fire response teams said they want to make sure they’re prepared for the worst heading into 2024. “We have possibly a very serious fire season on our hands,” said Noah Freedman, a forest fire crew leader based in Sioux Lookout.  Freedman is also the vice-president of Local 703 Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents forest firefighters. Northwestern Ontario’s historic warm winter temperatures and low snowpack this winter add to the concern, said Freedman. But the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)  said it’s too soon to say what the upcoming forest fire season will look like. “It’s very hard to place long term predictions about fire activity,” said Chris Marchand, a fire information officer with the MNRF’s Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services Regional Fire Centre in Dryden.

EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA — A new Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians law aims to protect culturally significant white cedar trees. Earlier this month, the Sault Tribe announced an update to the Tribal Code that will ensure the sustainable harvest of northern white cedar trees, otherwise called Giizhik trees. Giizhik trees are a type of tree that grows in many areas in the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP), including places of great significance to local tribes. The oldest of the trees can live up to a thousand years, and some of the trees in the area are 400 years old or older. Tribal officials said Giizhik trees have been an important part of Anishinaabe culture since long before colonization. The cedar trees are important both culturally as well as practically, as they have provided materials for building tools, boats and other materials. …There are hundreds of northern white cedar trees throughout the EUP, and the new tribe law will protect them from unsustainable harvesting.

Noah Freedman

THUNDER BAY — The union representing forest firefighters in Ontario says the province’s aviation, forest fires and emergency services branch is inadequately prepared for the 2024 fire season. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union alleges that Aviation Forest Fires and Emergency Services has “a retention crisis” in which there are almost no experienced staff left in the program. “Ontario was short roughly 12 per cent of its crews in 2022, and 26 per cent in 2023,” said Noah Freedman, vice-president of OPSEU local 703, and fire crew leader. “It’s getting worse because, though we have no problem hiring 18 and 19-year-olds, the lack of experience means we have no one to lead those crews. The AFFES certainly doesn’t want to acknowledge this.” …He said the difficulty in retaining firefighters arises from a combination of factors, primarily that the job is demanding and requires a lot of time away from family. But compensation is also a big issue.

It’s business as usual at the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) as spring and wildfire season approach. Despite the 2023 drought in the region and minimal snow pack, officials aren’t waving any red flags just yet. But recruitment, planning and equipment procurement are underway. Chris Marchand, a fire information officer with the Ontario ministry of natural resources and forestry’s AFFES agency, said that the fire season begins on April 1 and AFFES is preparing to respond should the fire hazard occur before then. …Ontario ministries, including the AFFES, must follow processes designed to make the procurement process fair, open and transparent. …For now, the main focus at the AFFES is on recruiting, hiring and training staff for the upcoming season. The application deadline to become an Ontario Fire Ranger (wildland firefighter) remains open until April 15.

Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore, one-year-in executive director of Forest Nova Scotia, wants to see the sector at the decision table when it comes to the future of forests in the province. Moore’s political and polling background is driving some wins for the association, which has a mammoth task of helping the industry navigate a period of transition. How do you view the shift in Nova Scotia’s forest industry following some pretty significant changes? In the last five years, with the Northern Pulp situation, we’ve seen the number of buyers for wood products in Nova Scotia decline 20 per cent. We’ve seen the contractor capacity in the province reduce by 40 per cent. …The Lahey Report has added to the uncertainty. …Your take on Social License in NS? I say we have social license. We need to stop worrying about playing nice with everybody. We need to focus instead on what we need to do to move the sector forward. 

With six weeks until wildfire season, the Ford government is on a campaign to silence its wildland firefighters’ dire warning about the catastrophic state of the province’s fire program. Make no mistake, winter is almost over and the fire bans are coming. Fire bans are used by the province when the threat of wildfire is extreme and though the government cannot readily influence the severity of the hazard, it can, and does, control the limitation of firefighting resources. …According to an internal report from 2015, Ontario’s wildfire program is comprised primarily of students trying to pay for college, which has resulted in constant turnover and “inexperienced staff making poor decisions on the fireline.” Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Graydon Smith has reassured Ontarians that the province has a “great number of crews.” In reality, ongoing retention issues mean Ontario is actually losing fire crews, and experience, at an exponential rate every year.

The federal government committed to planting two billion trees across the country to restore natural habitats and fight climate change, and now Quebec wants to harvest some of them. The provincial government is asking Ottawa to allow the local forestry industry to chop down trees in areas of the province hardest hit by last year’s forest fires. Ottawa has committed more than $3 billion to helping provinces, territories and organizations plant two billion trees by the end of 2031 as part of a national effort to reduce greenhouse gases. However, the 2 Billion Trees program does not fund trees designated for commercial use. Quebec Natural Resources and Forests Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina says the record-setting 2023 fire season has had tremendous economic impacts in rural regions that depend on the forestry industry.

WENDAKE, Quebec – A consultation meeting is scheduled this morning between First Nations and the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) as part of the Round Tables on the Future of the Forest. This process was announced in November 2023 by Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina. This new initiative by the Quebec government must translate into concrete actions and measures that respect the rights and interests of First Nations. …”It’s clear that the Quebec government is not doing enough to respect the rights of First Nations on the territory, especially when it comes to logging. The consultations carried out by the MRNF are superficial. Decisions are made unilaterally. Things have to change,” says Lance Haymond, Chief of the Kebaowek First Nation. …”It’s time the government stopped seeing the forest only as an economic engine for the forest industry,” declares Martin Dufour, Chief of the Essipit Innu First Nation.

Timiskaming First Nation is sharing the bounty from its territory through a community initiative that’s both creating a revenue stream and strengthening cultural ties between generations. Through The Wild Basket, community members harvest and cultivate foods in their territory that are then used to produce and sell value-added products like flavoured carbonated water, fresh mushrooms, forest teas, and mushroom soup. “It began in 2013 as a response to how we can better utilize non-timber forest products,” explained Annaleigh Males, the program’s coordinator, during the 2024 Northern Ontario Ag Conference in Sudbury. “We started with the forestry industry and we still work closely with the forestry industry.” The program is an initiative of Ni Dakinan, the natural resources department for the community, whose traditional territory stretches along the northeast side of Lake Timiskaming, extending into both Ontario and Quebec.